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sophisticated experience
one plus pad 2
500 dollars $550 Save $50
The OnePlus Pad 2 takes everything the original OnePlus Pad did well and takes it up a notch. With a better display, significantly improved performance, and equally impressive battery life, the OnePlus Pad 2 is easily one of the best Android tablets available.
Strong Points- beautiful 3k display
- excellent battery life
- upgraded performance
Cons- There is no LTE version
- camera is not very good
- No fingerprint sensor
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still worth it
one plus pad
400 dollars $480 Save $80
OnePlus entered the tablet market with the OnePlus Pad, and it was a great first attempt that still holds true a year later. With a great-looking display, solid battery life, and great overall performance, the OnePlus Pad is worth holding on to or buying on a budget.
Strong Points- Great looking 11.6 inch display
- Stable battery life and fast charging
- Performance is still good
Cons- No LTE option
- No fingerprint sensor
- Camera quality is slow
Not so long ago, if you were an Android fan and wanted a great tablet, you only had one choice. For a long time, Google pretty much forgot about Android tablets, leaving Samsung as the only real player for most consumers. Samsung still has top-tier tablets like the Galaxy Tab S9+, but other companies like Google and its Pixel Tablet are also starting to enter the market, creating some much-needed competition.
Not to be outdone by Samsung and Google, OnePlus threw its hat into the ring last year with the OnePlus Pad. OnePlus then took everything it learned from its first foray into the tablet space and released the new and improved OnePlus Pad 2. Neither device is perfect, but for those looking for a tablet, OnePlus has proven that they can work with the best and offer great features. Great experience.
Price, availability and specs
The OnePlus Pad is the company’s first attempt at launching a tablet and was launched in February 2023. Retail price is $480, but it’s on sale for $400. The OnePlus Pad 2 launches in July 2024 and retails for $550, but you can find it for $500 if you’re patient.
Both tablets are only available in a single GPS version and lack cellular connectivity. Similarly, only single color options are offered. The OnePlus Pad ships in Halo Green and the Pad 2 ships in Nimbus Gray. You can find the device directly from OnePlus or Amazon.
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one plus pad 2 one plus pad SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 3rd generation MediaTek Dimencity 9000 Display type LCD display, 144Hz LCD display, 144Hz Display dimensions 12.1 inch 11.6 inch display resolution 3000×2120 2000×2800 rum 8GB or 12GB 8GB storage 128GB or 256GB 128GB battery 9,510mAh 9,510mAh charging speed 67W Super VOOC 67W wired Price options USB-C wired USB-C wired port USB-C USB–C operating system Android 14 with OxygenOS 14 Android 13 with OxygenOS 13 front camera 8MP 8MP Ultra Wide rear camera 13MP 13MP Wi-Fi connection Wi-Fi7 Wi-Fi6 bluetooth Bluetooth 5.4 bluetooth 5.3 size 268.7×195.1×6.5mm 258×189.4×6.5mm weight 584g 552g color nimbus gray halo green price $550 $480
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design
Same, just bigger
Released only a year apart, it’s not really surprising that the OnePlus Pad and Pad 2 are strikingly similar in many ways. Both devices have aluminum frames, and apart from some narrow bezels, most of the front is taken up by the display. Both backs are made of aluminum and feature a large circular camera lens prominently placed in the top center of the tablet.
One area that has changed quite significantly is the overall size and weight. The OnePlus Pad measures 258 x 189.4 x 6.5 mm and weighs 552 g, which is slightly smaller than the Pad 2’s dimensions of 268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5 mm. The Pad 2 is also a bit heavier at 584g. When you hold either tablet in landscape mode, you’ll find a single USB-C port (type 2 for the OnePlus Pad and type 3.2 for the Pad 2) on the right side. The original OnePlus Pad ships with a four-speaker configuration, while the Pad 2 comes with a six-speaker configuration.
There are some common issues with tablets. First, neither device has an IP rating for water or dust ingress, so keep drinks away from these tablets. Another thing is that it doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner. Unlocking with your face is possible, but the lack of a fingerprint reader may be a big issue for some users.
screen
bigger and brighter
While not a huge difference, the display is one area where the new Pad 2 has significantly improved specs. The OnePlus Pad came with an 11.61-inch IPS LCD panel. It’s crisp and smooth with a 144Hz refresh rate and 2000 x 2800 resolution. The original pad can reach a maximum brightness of 500 nits, making it ideal for indoor use, but can cause visibility issues in direct sunlight.
One of the reasons the OnePlus Pad 2 is much larger than the original is due to its display size. Pad 2 is equipped with a large 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel. The refresh rate is the same at 144Hz, but the resolution is increased to 2120 x 3000 pixels. It also boasts a brighter display with 600 nits standard brightness and 900 nits peak brightness.
I wish OnePlus had opted for a better OLED for the display, but the LCD used here is very good. It doesn’t have the same level of immersive blackness you get when watching your favorite content, but it’s serviceable enough.
software
similar experience
You can expect almost the same software situation on OnePlus’ tablets. The OnePlus Pad shipped with Android 13 and OxygenOS 13.1, but was later upgraded to Android 14. The OnePlus Pad 2 ships with Android 14 and OxygenOS 14.1 out of the box.
If you’ve used OxygenOS on a device like the OnePlus 12, you should know what to expect, as it’s pretty much the same. In addition to offering Shelf and its custom weather app, OnePlus has optimized OxygenOS a bit for larger displays. It features a dock to quickly move between applications, a dual-panel settings menu, and the ability to run multiple apps simultaneously for increased productivity.
OnePlus offers the same software update policy for both devices. That’s 3 years of Android upgrades and 4 years of security updates. If you’re not interested in the OnePlus Pad yet, the Pad 2 might be the best option for you, just from a software support standpoint.
performance
big upgrade
For its first foray into the tablet space, OnePlus has opted for a Mediatek Dimensity 9000 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It wasn’t the most powerful processor at the time, but it was good enough to provide a nearly lag-free experience. OnePlus went in a different direction with the Pad 2, switching out the Mediatek processor for the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. OnePlus has also increased the RAM to 12GB and doubled the UFS 3.1 storage to 256GB.
One of the many reasons for OnePlus’ success is that the company has never been afraid to offer flagship-level power at an aggressive price point. Replacing it with the latest Snapdragon processor will allow OnePlus to maintain its image and offer a higher-performance experience. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of the benchmarks, you would expect to see a significant performance difference between these two benchmarks. You may experience some slowness with the Dimensity 9000 during daily use, but it’s often fast enough that it shouldn’t be too noticeable. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 doesn’t slow down at all during normal use. If you want to push your tablet a little harder with advanced productivity tasks or heavy gaming, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers a much better experience.
battery life
Typical tablet battery life
Due to its increased size, the tablet has a large battery that can last for several days. The OnePlus Pad offers just that experience, and since the Pad 2 has the same battery specs, the brand must have felt it was good enough.
The OnePlus Pad and Pad 2 are equipped with a 9510mAh battery that can be charged up to 67W via USB. Neither comes with wireless charging or reverse charging. You probably won’t use your tablet as often as you pick up your phone, so a good tablet needs a steady standby time, and both of these tablets definitely deliver that. You should be able to use it on and off over the weekend without any problems.
camera
Why do tablets have cameras?
When companies make tablets, the cameras they put on them are often an afterthought and aren’t as good as those found in flagship smartphones. It’s safe to say that the cameras used on both tablets are so-so, despite their prominent location on the back. The OnePlus Pad and OnePlus Pad 2 come with a 13MP f/2.2 primary lens that can record 4K or 1080p video at 30fps. It also features an 8MP f/2.3 front-facing camera that can record videos at 1080p 30fps.
In bright conditions, both tablets can take average photos. As the lights begin to dim, things quickly go from bad to worse. Also, when you zoom in on a subject, you lose a lot of detail. The front camera isn’t great for photos, but it works fine for video calls.
Which one is right for you?
Choosing a good Android tablet depends on your situation and perspective. I went back and forth about which angle to approach it from, and I answered which one was better. Since both devices are still available for purchase new, I decided to take the approach of buying a new tablet today.
If you’re looking to buy a tablet right now, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a clear winner. Everything about the Pad 2 is as good or better than the original OnePlus Pad. You get a bigger, brighter display, a huge performance boost with a better processor and extra RAM, double the storage, and an extra year of software updates thanks to new. It’s a little more expensive than the OnePlus Pad, but I think it’s well worth the extra cost.
Editor’s Choice
one plus pad 2
Powerful and well priced
500 dollars $550 Save $50
The OnePlus Pad 2 is definitely one of the best Android tablets you can buy today. With a great display, incredibly fast performance, and solid battery life, Pad 2 holds its own in increasingly crowded environments. The Pad 2 is also very aggressively priced, making it a great overall choice.
If you already own a OnePlus Pad, you should keep your current device. Sure, the Pad 2 has some great benefits, but if your current tablet can do everything the Pad can do, it’s not worth the upfront cost. It won’t be faster or have a bigger display, but you’ll get the same day-to-day software experience and battery life. Your best bet is to spend a few years upgrading when you start to feel slow.
runner-up
one plus pad
It’s a good deal when it’s on sale
400 dollars $480 Save $80
The OnePlus Pad may be a year old, but it’s still pretty capable. If you already own this tablet, rest assured that it’s still plenty effective against its new sibling. With a great-looking display, great battery life, and plenty of performance, this tablet will keep you happy for a few more years.
